Research Fundermentals: Open Access: Europe's Plan A-R Explained

"There was much excitement in Brussels this week with the publication of 'Plan S', the European Commission's plan to make all scholarly publications resulting from public research funding open access from 1 January 2020. But the big question is: what happened to Plans A-R? Robert-Jan Smits, Senior Advisor on Open Access within the European Political Strategy Centre, spoke exclusively to Fundermentals. 'It was a long and difficult process,' suggests, Smits, 'and it took us many months and an awful lot of coffee.' Smits set out the process that they had been through to reach Plan S, and the 18 previous plans that got them there.

Plan A: we began optimistically, and suggested that everything should be free. What we were suggesting was, if you will, a research 'summer of love'. Nothing would be paid for. We'd live in open access communes, sharing everything. No hell below us, above us only sky. That sort of thing.

Plan B: ..."